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Cool Counties

What is the Cool Counties initiative?                             

On July 16, 2007 at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference in Richmond, Virginia, 12 pioneering counties representing 17 million people launched “Cool Counties.” The Cool Counties initiative seeks to marshal the resources of all 3,066 counties across the nation to address the challenges climate change poses to our communities.
  
Participating counties commit to four smart actions:

1. Reducing our own contributions to climate change through our internal operations;
2. Demonstrating regional leadership to achieve climate stabilization and protect our communities;
3. Helping our community become climate resilient;
4. Urging the federal government to support our efforts.

King County, Washington, Fairfax County, Virginia, and the Sierra Club led the effort to draft this declaration and organize support for its approval. King County will continue to serve as the lead organizing government as we build support across the nation.

Why join?
 

Cool Counties - Signatories

1. King County, Washington
2. Fairfax County, Virginia
3. Nassau County, New York
4. Cook County, Illinois
5. Alameda County, California
6. Hennepin County, Minnesota
7. Dane County, Wisconsin
8. Queen Anne's County, Maryland
9. Montgomery County, Maryland
10. Yolo County, California
11. Hamilton County, Ohio
12. Carroll County, Maryland
13. Lake County, California
14. Miami Dade County, Florida
15. Arlington County, Virginia
16. Shelby County, Tennessee
17. Santa Clara County, California 
18. Contra Costa County, California
19. New Kent County, Virginia
20. James City County, Virginia
21. San Mateo County, California
22. Los Angeles County, California
23. Cuyahoga County, Ohio
24. Clark County, Nevada
25. Johnson County, Kansas
26. Richland County, South Carolina
27. Albemarle County, Virginia
28. Marin County, California
29. Clackamas County, Oregon
30. Multnomah County, Oregon
31. Bucks County, Pennsylvania
32. Sacramento County, California
33. Skagit County, Washington
34. Prince George's County, Maryland
35. Monmouth County, New Jersey
36. Broward County, Florida
37. Orange County, North Carolina
38. Wakulla County, Florida
39. San Miguel County, Colorado
40. Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
41. Boulder County, Colorado
42. Snohomish County, Washington

In the News

Articles

• Connolly's authority flows from firm hand, Washington Post
• Eco-Friendly Initiative Proposed For Fairfax, Washington Post
• Recruiting drive for other Cool Counties, San Francisco Chronicle
• Sierra Club Spearheads Cool Counties Initiative, E Magazine
• U.S. counties join global warming fight with "Cool Counties" declaration, Post Carbon Cities

Press releases

• King County helps lead “Cool Counties” Launch of Major Global Warming Initiative, King County
• Fairfax County to Address Global Climate Change With Sierra Club and National Partners, Fairfax County
• Leggett, Councilmembers Announce Montgomery County Joins “Cool Counties” Initiative to Fight Global Warming, Montgomery
• Skagit County Commissioners sign resolution establishing program and task force on sustainability and climate change, Skagit County
   

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Masthead photo credits: Rolf Sklar, Curtis J. Carley FWS, NOAA